Vacuum separator



Dec. 16, 1952 1.. G. MOLEAN VACUUM SEPARATOR 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1949 INVENTOR LYLE G MCLEAN ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1952 L. G. MOLEAN VACUUM SEPARATOR 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1949 INVENTOR LYLE G M LEAN ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM SEPARATOR Lyle G. McLean, Warden, Wash. Application September 29, 1949, Serial No. 118,595

1 Claim. 1

' My invention relates to improvements in vacuum separators and is particularly adapted for the removing of the lighter materials that have been stratified. In order to appreciate the object of this invention it might be well to refer to my now pending applications on Classifiers and Separators, Serial No. 30,438, filed June 1, 1948, and Serial No. 88,125 filed April 18', 1949, Patent No. 2,574,493.

The object of my present invention in vacuum separators is to remove the lighter stratified materials by a vacuum system employing revolving perforated drums.

My new and improved separator is primarily intended to be used in connection withv seeds, nuts and the like, and in the removing} of the lighter stratified materials from the heavier., concentrated materials, a. minimum of agitation must exist while separating the same, therefore by the employing of my vacuum separator a minimum of disturbance is caused.

By employing a drum having apertures therearound and through coming adjacent the upper stratified lighter materials with a vacuum existing within the drum the materials are instantly picked up by the vacuum into the apertures without afiecting or disturbing the heavier concentrated materials.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings: 4

Figure 1 is a plan view of my new and improved separator. I

Figure 2 is a side view, partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail looking into the apertures formed on the'tperiphcry of the separator drum. I

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view, illustrating the method of mounting the drum within the housing.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

My new and improved separator consists of a drum I. This drum is rotated by the motor 4, reduction gear box '5, belt or chain Bitrained about the sheave or sprocket-,1. This ave is fixedly secured to the hub 3 of the drum I.

The drum I has apertures II formedover its apertures or indentures in some cases may be 2 shaped to conform to the shape of the produc being separated.

Openings I2 of the aperture II communicate with the interior of the drum I. In operation the drum is revolved in the direction of the arrow by the above mentioned driving system. A vacuum is created Within the drum I which picks up the product '9 as shown at 20 when the drum revolves over the stratified materials to be separated. The product is maintained within the apertures I I until it reaches the vacuum breaker I3 at the point I3A.

The vacuum breaker consists of a cross segment I3 having a resilient facing I5 thereon contacting the inner surface Iil' of the drum. When the vacuum is broken the product falls out of the apertures II into the delivery trough I6. The vacuum breaking segment I3 is supported by arms I4, which are fixedly secured to the hollow tube 3B, which remains stationary at all times holding the vacuum breaker I3 in the position as illustrated. I do not wish to be limited by removing the product from the apertures II by way of breaking the vacuum, as the product might be removed by an outside mechanical method. The drum I and the housing 2 are mounted upon the frame 8 of the concentrating and stratifying machine.

In the operation of my separator relative to my pending applications, air pressure is supplied up through the ducts I1, through the openings I8 of the perforated plate I9 up through the product 9 stratifying the said product locating the lighter materials above the heavier materials the lighter materials being picked up by the vacuum existing within the apertures II as the drum I is revolved. The product 9 is moved in the direction of the arrow by a suitable method, as for instance the conventional belt 2i. The stratification of the materials 9 is thoroughly described and claimed in my pending applications.

When coarse products, such as nuts and large seeds, are being stratified the air streams passing through the material tends to bypass around the individual units. To correct this difliculty I have mounted a screen 25 above the stratified materials which further diifuses the air streams delaying their flow reducing said bypassing around the said products.

While I have shown several layers of stratification, I do not wish to be limited to the operation of my separator in this manner, as' it will operate equally well over a single layer removing the lighter material from the heavier allowing the heavier to pass on through. With my new allelly above said conveyor and perforated bottom, a drum journalled on the shaft directly over the trough, the periphery of the drum having a plurality of inwardly tapered indentations terminating in openings which communicate with the interior of the drum, section means connected with the tube for creating a suction through said drum openings to draw and hold the lighter articles individually in said indentations and thereby cut off suction from the heavier articles, shielding means carried by the tube and extending to engagement with the inner surface of the drum to shield a selected portion of the drum from suction, and a receptacle adjacent the drum and disposed adjacent one limit of said shielding means to receive articles picked up from the trough and carried to a point at the limit of the shielding means to be released.

LYLE Gr. MCLEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recoru 1n the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,093,437 Gwinn Sept. 21, 1938 2,183,606 Day Dec. 19, 1939 2,190,935 Cox Feb. 20, 1940 2,228,559 Cox Jan. 14, 1941 2,275,849 Fraser Mar. 10, 1942 2,332,183 Stump Oct. 19, 1943 2,411,283 Morse Nov. '19, 1946 

